Siphon apparatus for flush tanks



June 25, 1963 P. E. PlHl. ETAL sIPHON APPARATUS FOR FLUSH TANKS 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 17. 1960 ATTORNEYS June 25, 1963 P. E. PIHLETAL sIPHoN APPARATUS FOR FLUSH TANKS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filecrl Feb. 1'7.1960 INVENTORS PAUL E. PIHL PRESTON M. HALL ATTORNEYS Unire States arent3,094,706 SIPHON APPARATUS FOR FLUSH TANKS Paul E. Pihl, Bluemont, Va.,and Preston M. Hall, 9612 Merwood Lane, Silver Spring, Md. Filed Feb.17, 1960, Ser. No. 9,218 Claims. (Cl. 4-48) This invention relatesgenerally to liquid receptacle control means and more particularly tothe flushing apparatus for tiush tanks.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a simple inexpensiveapparatus for a flush tank which eliminates the need for a gravityoperated stop flow outlet valve, said valve being the cause of a largepercentage of the leaky ush tanks. While a leaky flush tank connected toa municipal Water distribution system is an expensive annoyance, a leakyiiush tank connected to an independent supply such as a well or tank ona farm is intolerable as it will soon exhause the water supply. In priorefforts to eliminate leaky ush tanks, various Siphon tube arrangementshave been proposed but none have been acceptable practically orcommercially.

Siphon tubes used prior to this invention have several disadvantages,one being that they are usually of a fixed length and therefore areeffective only for a certain given static water level, which in turndepends on `a given constant water pressure. The device of the presentinvention, however, is adapted by a novel float means to functioneffectively at various Water levels since the effective siphon tube isvertically extensible and the top of the tube is held at a fixeddistance relative to the Water level.

Another disadvantage of Siphon tubes, particularly extensible tubesfound in the prior art, is that they are too complex and therefore,ineiiicient, costly, and require special tank fittings. Moreover, theymay require jetting to initiate the siphon action and to expel thecontents of the tank through the discharge pipe, in some instances,requiring that the operator hold the handle during part or all of theflushing operation.

The relatively simple device of the preferred embodiment of thisinvention merely employs a float, discharge tube, and a flexibleconnection therebetween, and it is only necessary to depress theoperating handle momentarily so as to initiate a Siphon action.Moreover, the device may be easily installed by .a do it yourselfhorneowner in any flush tank by a simple connection requiring no specialskill or tools.

Accordingly, a further important object of this invention is to providea Siphon apparatus for a flush tank that may be quickly and easilyinstalled in a conventional ush bulb operated flush tank to replace thelatter means.

Another object of this invention is to provide an inexpensive apparatusWhich will efficiently empty a flush tank by a siphon means havingcontrolled iiow and relatively strong siphoning power.

Another object is to provide a flushing apparatus that may operate atvaried water levels with the same high quality performance at eachlevel.

Another object of the invention is to minimize the noise usuallyattending the operation of conventional flush tanks by instituting aquietly operating Siphon action to effect discharge from a tank.

More specifically it is an object of this invention to provide a flushtank Siphon apparatus embodying an upright open ended tube having anannular weir of uniform height over which water is carried to overiiowto initiate siphoning action.

Further objects Will be apparent to those skilled in the art from thefollowing description of the apparatus and exempliications thereof, andfrom the scope of the appended claims.

These and other objects are realized in the preferred embodiment of thisinvention by utilizing a siphon device featuring a vertically extensibleSiphon tube, a float cooperating with said siphon tube, and a flowrestriction means located in the ush tank discharge tube.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is 4a front view partially in section of the first embodimentof our invention;

FIGURE lA shows the relative positions of the discharge pipe, flexiblesleeve, and tiow restriction means as and immediately after the liquidhas been iiushed from the tank;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional plan view taken along line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the ow restrictionmeans of the FIGURE 1 embodiment;

FIGURE 4 is a View of the lower end of the ush tank discharge tubeshowing a modified form of the flow restriction means;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional elevation View of another embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIGURE 5A is a fragmentary section along the line SA-SA of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional elevation view of another embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIGURE 6A is .a fragmentary section along the line (SA-6A of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 7 is a view partly in sectional elevation of another embodimentof the present invention;

FIGURE 8 is a sectional elevation of the siphon pump shown in FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a horizontal sectional view taken along line 9 9 of FIGURE8;

FIGURE l0 is a sectional view of still another embodiment of the presentinvention; and

FIGURE l1 is an enlarged view of .a portion of FIG- URE 10.

While the invention broadly may be used for dispensing any type ofliquid in regulated amounts, the description will be restricted to itsuse in a flush tank for the purpose of illustrating this invention.FIGURE l shows a conventional ceramic ush tank 2 having a cover 4, and aWater inlet fitting `6 which extends through the bottom of tank 2 whichis water sealed thereto at 7 and which is connected to an inlet controlvalve 10 through pipe 8. Valve 10 is operated by a conventional oat 12on rod 14 and admits Water to the bottom of the tank through a refilltube 16.

The Siphon device of the present invention Ifor discharging water fromthe tank comprises =a substantially vertical, single column dischargepipe 17 extending vertically through a conventional tubular bulb valveseat element 18 in tank outlet opening 2 and fixed thereto by [a Watertight securing means 19, which is preferably a water resistant cement,la tightly fitting rubber ring, or other suitable water resistantmaterial capable of securing pipe 17 in element 18 against relativemovement. Valve seat element 18, which is exteriorly threaded is mountedin water tight relation through opening 2 by means of nut 20 and gaskets20and the lower end of valve `seat element 18 extends through theopening 21 in the upper portion of -a ush bowl 21 and is extensivelysealed thereto in the conventional manner. With the exception of pipe 17Eand securing means 19, the structure thus far described is conventional:and further details will therefore not be set out. The discharge pipe17 extends substantially v'concentrically through ush valve seat element18 Iand is sub'- stanti-ally longer than `said valve seat element 1.8for a purpose to be described hereinafter. Surrounding the upper portionof pipe 17 in the tank 2 is :a ilexible sleeve 24 which is made oflatex, neoprene, nylon or other suitable wate-r resistant highlyflexible material and `at its lower end is sealingly clamped to pipe 17`by a friction clamp ring 25.

An inverted cup-shaped siphon bell 30, which may be of either lightmetal or plastic, has in this embodiment four substantially concentrictubular members depending :from the top Wall 39 thereof. Skirts 35 and33, the outer and next inner members respectively, Vare sealinglysecured to or integral with the under surface of top wall 39 of thelioat, skirt 36 being substantially longer than 3S. When the watersurface seals the 4annular bottom opening of the annular space 37between skirts 36 Aand 38 las shown at 37 in FIGURE 1, the annul-arspace 37 with `air envtrapped therein forms an annular float chamber inbell 30. Flotation maybe eifected by means of sealed -air pockets,plastic foam, rubber foam or any other similar means providingsuiiicient bouy-ancy to place the top edge 44 of a tubular member 4t)(about to be described) above water level 39 of the water between skirt35 and tubular member 40 which is the same level yas the level of thewater in the tank 2 outside skirt 36.

Also suspended from the top wall 39 of the bell 30 is the tubular member40 having its upper edge 44 spaced from said top 39 and a lower portionclosely surrounding 'the outwardly flared upper lip 17' of dischargepipe 17 to cooperate therewith to guide the vertical movement of bell 30within tank 2 and receiving the upper end of sleeve 24 at 23 as shown.In its unstretched condition, the internal diameter of lsleeve 24 isless than the external diameter of tubular member 40 so that when it isstretched over the lower end of tubul-ar member 4h, it forms a fluidtight seal therewith. The yinternal diameter of sleeve 24 is, however,greater than the external diameter of tube 17 within tank 2 beingnormally held against the exterior of pipe 17 by exteriorally appliedhydrostatic pressure of the water within tank 2.

Innermost depending member 46 which constitutes a combined flowrestriction means land secondary water :inlet also depends from the topwall 39 and surrounds an opening 47 in the top wall 39 of the bell 30.The portion 4S of wall 39 defining opening 47 is funnel shaped while thelower portion of tube 46 has a radially outwardly extending annular ange52 the periphery of which is substantially uniformly spaced from theinterior of tube 17 when the lapparatus is in the position shown in FIG-URE 1.

Disposed above the funnel portion 48 of wall 39 is another water inletpipe 56 which is also connected to inlet v-alve and controlled by float12.

The overall horizontal cross-sectional shape of the bell may becylindrical, rectangular, elliptical or irregular so long as the minimumcross-sectional area of the upward flow passage within the Siphon bell30 laround tube 4t) is equal to or greater than the minimumcross-sectional area of the outward flow passage through the dischargetubes 40 and 17. In other words, as will be seen from the FIGURES 5 and6 embodiments, the bell may be elliptical or rectangular rather thancylindrical as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2. The optimum contiguration ofbell 30 is dictated by the tank design. The primary consideration is toprovide enough yarea around tube 40 for water flow up to the top edge 44of the tube 40 and down into the tube 40 so that there will lbe norestriction in Volume.

In operation of the device, handle 58 is actuated and causes an actuatorbar 60 to depress siphon bell 30 a distance vertically downward at leastsuicient to lower the upper edge 44 of tube 40 below the water level 39'to thereby initiate a Siphon action. The depression of the bell 30causes water to flow over edge 44 carrying with it the small `amount of`ai-r trapped inside member 38 above the Water level 39 `and quicklyfilling 17 Because the discharge pipe 17 has a long lower portion whichextends through valve seat element 18, a large water head is built uptherein when the bell 36 is depressed thereby producing a Istronger`Siphon action than iS found in prior siphoning devices used for thispurpose. Not only does the extra length of this pipe produce a strongerSiphon, it also enables the Siphon action to be initiated instantly by adepression of the handle since this lower portion of the tube -acts incooperation with flow restriction means 52 fas shown in FIGURE 1, or inthe alternative, ow restriction means 64 shown in FIGURE 4 (both ofwhich are hereinafter described) to build up the head rapidly. Thisrapid build-up insures that the siphon will not -be broken by olsettingany sudden bouyancy effect which might result when the operating handle58 is suddenly released. When siphoning action is established, thepressure within skirt 38 above the top of tube 40 drops belowatmospheric pressure sufficiently so that the Siphon float 36 and hencetubular member 40 will also be lowered around pipe 17 to the bottom ofthe tank 2 and will remain there until after the tank is substantiallyemptied and the Siphon is broken by yair flowing in below the bottom ofskirt 36 at which time Water inlet valve 10 controlled by oat 12 beginsto rell the tank in a well-known manner. The bell 30 will remain on thebottom until flotation is established at which time the bell 30 willfloat and support the lip 44 above the level of the water as the tank isfilled. For example, the -bouyancy should be such that lip 44 issupported approximately `above the water level. This assures preventionof leakage but permits overflow over lip 44 if the shut-off valve shouldnot function after sleeve 24 'has reached its fully extended position.This overflow action takes place without initiating siphoning action asthe overflow rate is very slow.

0f particular importance in the operation is the character of sleeve 24which must offer very little upward force after being depressed.Otherwise, the -bell 30 would be prematurely raised to the top positionand stop the siphoning action. Therefore the sleeve 24, in addition tobeing made of light flexible rubber which is preferably no heavier thanthat used in surgical gloves, for example, is also arranged to fold,slip down, or roll back over on itself as tubular member 40 is lowered.This roll bac characteristic, illustrated in FIGURE 1A, results inpractically no resistance due to folding or kinking. There -issubstantially no appreciable friction between tubular member 40 and therubber sleeve 24 or between different portions of the rubber sleeve 24itself inasmuch as water is an excellent lubricant for rubber. While, toinsure that the sleeve 24 rolls back on itself, au invertedtruste-conical shape sleeve element may be used, the sleeve 24 shown inlllGURE 1 has been found to be inexpensive and very eicient.

As long as valve 10 is open, tube 56 directs a small stream of waterthrough funnel portion 4S and tube 46 and thence into a closet bowl soas to provide the required water seal. This Water inlet arrangement ofmy invention is eiiicient and economical inasmuch as it is not necessaryto provide a special inlet tube into pipe 17 as is commonly done.

When water is flushed from a tank through a discharge pipe there will bea ow pattern established in the tube. This invention utilizes a radiallyoutwardly extending annular flange 52, which constitutes the ilowrestriction means of this invention, on the water inlet tube 46 whicheffectively blocks passage of air through the center of the tube 17while it permits the flow of liquid between it and the pipe 17. Thepurpose of the ow restriction means is to reduce the cross-sectionalarea of the tube 17 at least when operation is initiated sufficiently sothat a minimum amount of water overflowing the top edge 44 of tube 4)will form a slug of water providing a seal transversely of the tube 17and thereby prevent air how through the tube 17, which in turn wouldprevent initiation of the siphoning action. Thus the iiow restrictionmeans performs a dual function since it also allows the siphon to beinitiated with only a momentary depression of the float, as brought outabove, by restrict- .3 ing the iiow area in the discharge pipe 17 tocause a quick build-up of water therein and thereby prevent the slightrebounding, due to buoyancy, of the iloat 3i) from breaking the Siphonprematurely.

The flow restriction means is shown in the preferred form on tube 46 inFIGURES l and 1A, since this form cause a iiow restriction while thelioat is being lowered but it also provides unrestricted flow after theelement 52 passes the lower extremity of pipe 17 as soon as the Siphonhas been initiated. lt is within the scope of this invention to suspenda disk-like me-mber similar to element 52 by means of a spider or othersupport in the pipe 17.

FIGURE 4 shows another ilow restriction means 64 which is a radiallyinwardly extending annular flange 64 in pipe 17, that may be substitutedfor element 52. Flange 64 restricts the ilow at the bottom of the pipeto a narrow vortex so as to eleminate the possibility of an air pass inthe center thereof and also provides for a water build-up in thedischarge pipe as does element 52 but, being xed in tube 1S, results ina slower rate of total evacuation of tank 2.

The embodiment of FIGURES 5 and 5A comprises a vertically extensibletube assembly 76 formed by `an inner rigid tube 72, an outer rigid tube74 slideablyinterlitting with the tube 72, and a sleeve-type flexiblebellows 76 iixed in liuid tight relation to the lower end of tube '72 bya collar 78 and iixed in iiuid tight relation at its upper end to theexterior of tube 7-4 substantially midway of its length. The lower endof tube 72 is lixed in iiuid tight relation to the outlet fitting 30, ofconventional form extending through the discharge opening 32 of thebottom wall of the tank A guide collar 86 is provided on the exterior ofthe lower end of tube 74 to prevent the thin wall rubber bellows 76 fromwedging between the tube 74 and 72 under the -inlluence of theexternally applied hydrostatic pressure as the tube 74 is loweredrelative to the tube 72. The bell 83 comprises an inverted cup-shapeelement 9i) of elliptical crossesection horizontally, as is best shownin FIGURE 5A, having transverse partitions 92 and 94 defining with theopposite ends of element 9G open bottom air pockets 96 and 9S. The bell88 is mounted upon the upper end of the tube 74 by joining the externalsurface of tube 74 to the opposed surfaces of the partitions 921 and 4-in substantially line contact as by cementing along the lines 111i) and162. By this construction, the air trapped within the compartments 96and `98 above the level of the water at the bottom thereof indicated at1114 and 11196 buoyantly supports the bell 8S and the tube '74 so thatthe overllow Weir defining top edge 163 of the tube 74 is normallysupported slightly above the level 110 of the water within thecup-shaped element 11 between partitions 92 and 94 which level is thesame as the level 112 of the water outside the bell 88. When the bell SSis depressed by a suitable mechanism similar to that illustrated in FIG-URE l so that the edge y1133 is below the level 110, water is free to owupwardly around the tube 74 between the partitions 92 and 94, over thetop edge 11th and down through the tube 74 and the tube 72 to thedischarge. The overiiow of edge 1118 is preferably uniformly distributedcircumferentially around edge 193. As in the previous embodiment, asuitable tiow restriction means is preferably ixed to the lower end ofthe secondary water inlet conduit 114 suspended from the top wall of thecup-shaped element 90. As soon as Siphon action is initiated, the airtrapped between partitions 92 and 94 above the level 110 ofthe waterwill be evacuated through the tubes 72 and 74 and the bell, due to thediiierence in pressure exerted on the exterior of its top surface andthe interior of its top surface between partitions 92 and 94, willrapidly drop its lower position in which its lower edge 116 rests on thebottom of the tank `84. A recess or opening 118 is formed through theside wall of the cup-shaped element 9b at each side to permit continuedllow of liquid from the tank through the recess 1118 and upwardlythrough the interior of the cup-shaped element to overllow the top edge.108 of the tube 74. Flow will continue until the level in the tankreaches the level of the top edge of recess 118 when the cup-shapedelement 91? is in its lower position with its bottom edge 116 resting onthe bottom of the tank 84. When the water reaches that level, air willbe drawn in through the recess 11S and Siphon action broken. Refillingof the tank with this embodiment is in all material respects the same asin the previous embodiment.

The embodiment of FIGURES 6 and 6A is similar to the embodiment ofFIGURES 5 and 5A with the exceptions that a bell of rectangularcross-section is provided as is shown in FIGURE 6A and a substantiallyfrictionless water tight joint 132 is provided between the inner tubularmember 134 and the outer tubular member 136 of the axially extensible`Siphon tube assembly 138 in lieu ot the bellows 76 of the FIGURES 5 and5A embodiment. The bell 131i is formed by an inverted cup-shaped elementy141i of rectangular horizontal cross-section and is provided withtransverse partitions 142 and 144 delining with the cup-shaped element1449 air pockets 146 and 148 which are open at their lower end and whichform float chambers. The bell 136 is fixed to the top of the tube 136with its top wall 150 in vertically spaced relation to the top edge 152of the tube 136 by equally angularly spaced struts 154 which permit freecircumferentially uniform tlow of water over the annular Weir dening topedge 152 when the bell 13) is depressed suiiiciently to lower the topedge 152 below the normal level '156 of the water within the cup-shapedelement 141i between the partitions 142 and 144. The normal level of thewater within the tank around the bell 136 is indicated `at 158 and thenormal level of the water within the compartments 146 and 148 isindicated at 161) and 162. The water tight frictionless joint 132between the tubular members 134 and 136 is provided by a body of liquid164 retained in the open top sealed bottom annular space between thetube 134 and a further tube 166 which is in radially spaced surroundingrelation to the tube 134 and between which the tube 136 is free t0 movevertically. The body of liquid 164 is preferably of mercury but may beof any other iiuid which is heavier than the liquid contained within thetank, which will not wet or adhere to the tube 136, which isnon-corrosive, which is immiscible with and insoluble in the liquidwithin the tank. Since mercury meets all of these conditions, it isideally suitable for use in a flush tank; 4the sole disadvantage beingthe expense on the present day market of mercury in sufficientquantities. The proportions of the annular space between the tubes `134and 136 and the lengths of the tubes 134, 136 and 166 are such that thelower end of the tube 136 is immersed within the body of liquid 164 whenthe bell 130 is in its upper position as shown in FIGURE 6 and the tube136 may be lowered fully into the body of liquid 164 without causingthat liquid to overow the tops of the tubes 134 or 166. By thisconstruction, the tubes 134, 136 and 166 provide a vertically extensibleSiphon tube offering substantially no resistance to the descent of thebell 131i and no upward force upon the tube tending to force it upwardlyand prematurely break the siphoning action. With these exceptions, theoperation of this embodiment is substantially identical with that of thepreceding embodiments described above in detail.

FIGURES 7-9 show still another modification of the present invention.Discharge pipe 183 has secured at the upper end thereof a supportbracket 184 which rotatably supports an open end cylindrical pumpelement 136 by means of a pivot pin 18S secured to said bracket. Thepump is spaced evenly from pipe 183 by means of spacers 191 which aresecured to said pipe and have a ball-shaped end to reduce friction.

On the inner wall of the pump is mounted a plurality 7 of spiral-shapedvanes 190. Gn the outer wall is a continuous spiral groove 192 adaptedto receive follower element 194 mounted on actuator rod 196.

In operation the actuator rod is depressed causing the pump to rotate bymoving the follower 194 through slot 192 to the 4bottom thereof.Rotation of the pump element causes Water to rise and flow into thedischarge pipe due to the action of the spiral vanes and a siphon isthereby initiated. Once rod 196 has been depressed and the handlereleased by the operator, spring 198 will bring it back to its initialposition at about the same time the Itank is reiilled by theconventional iioat and water inlet means (not shown).

This form differs from above embodiments in general operative principlein only one respect, i.e., instead of lowering the discharge pipe to thewater, the water is raised to said pipe to initiate the Siphon; andwhile this slight difference exists, this modiiication may still be usedwith varying water levels since the pump is partially iilled with liquidat all times as shown in FIGURE 7 when the tank is full.

In FIGURES l and 11, another modiiication is shown which employs a iloat(not shown) having a tubular member 199 similarly as shown in FIGURES l,5 and 6. The upper portion of discharge pipe 201 has an annular groove200 which receives a rubber O-ring 204. Mounted around O-ring 204 is anannular Teilen sealing ring 208 which has an annular depression 210 forengaging said O-ring 204 and preventing relative vertical movementtherebetween. The side of the Teflon ring S opposite depression 210 iitsiiush against tubular member 199.

In operation the float is depressed and a siphon is initiated asdescribed in the operation of FTGURE 1. The water being discharged bydownward flow through tube 199 and pipe 201 is prevented from iiowingthrough the annular space between the lower portion of tube 199 and pipe201 by O-ring 204 and the Teilen ring 20S, but due to the lubricatingeffect which the water has on the Teflon virtually no friction isencountered by tube 199 on ring 203 and the oat subsides with `the waterlevel uninhibited.

The sealing rings 204, 208 also act. as guide elements for tube 199assuring vertical descent of iioat.

All embodiments of the present invention can be used in liquid vendingor dispensing machines delivering a measured or unmeasured amount ofliquid, or slurry, or of a liquid having small suspended particles suchas is common in fruit beverages and the like.

The invention may be embodied in other speciiic forms without departingfrom the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The presentembodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects asillustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention beingindicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoingdescription, and all changes which come Within the meaning and range ofequivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States LettersPatent is:

1. In combination with a liquid receptacle having a bottom outletopening :open externally of said tank to `atmosphere, a fluid flowoutlet apparatus comprising sa tubular iluid outlet conduit verticallydisposed in said receptacle `and having an open top and its lower endinternally disposed to provide iiuid communication with said receptacleoutlet opening and externally connected in uid tight relation thereto toprevent iiuid ow from said receptacle other` than through said conduit,an inverted cup-shaped element attached to said conduit for verticalreciprocating movement relative to said recetpacle in a predeterminedpath lbetween a normal elevated position and ian operated depressedposition and having a top end wall disposed in spaced relation to thetop end of said conduit to permit fluid to pass between the upper end ofsaid conduit and the top end wall of said element, said element having adepending continuous side wall extending from said element end walldownwardly in spaced surrounding relation to the upper end portion ofsaid conduit to dene a iiow passage with the `exterior of said conduit,manually actua-.table means for actuating said element from its normaltoward its operated position, and means in said conduit operative iatleast Iduring initiation of flow through said conduit to restrict thecross section or" said conduit to assure formation of a water sealiacross said conduit during initiation of water ilow through saidconduit.

2. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said conduit is providedwith means intermediate the ends thereof permitting relative axialconverging and diverging movement of the ends thereof, wherein saidele-ment is xed to the upper end of said conduit.

3. The combination 4deiined in claim 2 wherein said conduit comprises apair of telescopically interiitting rigid tubular members interconnectedat their overlapping ends by a thin highly ilexi-bly tubular sleeve.

4. The combination deiined in claim 2 wherein said conduit comprises apair of telescopically intertting rigid tubular members and wherein saidmovement permitting means comprises a liquid joint provided with `aliquid which is immiscible and insoluble in water, which is nonwetting,and which has a specific gravity greater' than one.

5. The combination dened in claim 4 wherein the liquid of said joint ismercury.

6. The combinationV defined in claim 2 wherein the said conduitcomprises a pair of tubular rigid members arranged in coaxial relationand wherein said movement permitting means comprises a highly iiexiblebellows interconnecting the adjacent ends of said tubularmembers.

7. The lcombination defined in claim 2 wherein said conduit comprises apair of telescopically interiitting tubular members and wherein -saidmovement permitting means comprises concentrically arranged sealingstructure interposed between the opposed surfaces of said membersembodying an O-ring iixed to one of the said opposed surfaces and aTeiion ring interposed between said O-ring and the other of said opposedsurfaces, said Teon ring being fixed to said O-ring and in slidingsealing contact with said other opposed surface.

S. The combination defined in claim l wherein said `conduit extendsthrough said receptacle outlet opening to a position substantially belowthe bottom of said tank so that fluid Idischarged through said conduitfrom said receptacle is confined within said conduit to a levelsubst-antially below the bottom of said tank to provide a substantialpressure diierential to maintain proper siphoning action.

9. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said restricting meanscomprises a ilow restricting element disposed in said conduit andmovable with said element from a iow restricting position when saidelement is in its said normal position to an inoperative position whensaid element is in its operative position.

10. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said flow restrictingelement comprises ya disk disposed transversely of said conduit andsuspended from said element end wall concentrically in said conduit.

References Qited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 385,130Miller June 26, 1888 692,611 Burgum Feb. 2, 1902 1,165,228 Coburn Dec.15, 1915 1,251,802 Miller Jan. 1, 1918 1,443,215 Davisson Ian. 23, 19232,560,532 Cole July 17, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 5,327 Great Britain Dec.22, 1884 805,876 Great Britain Dec. 17, 1958 1,020,936 Germany Dec. 12,1957 1,063,114 France Dec. 16, 1953

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A LIQUID RECEPTACLE HAVING A BOTTOM OUTLETOPENING OPEN EXTERNALLY OF SAID TANK TO ATMOSPHERE, A FLUID FLOW OUTLETAPPARATUS COMPRISING A TUBULAR FLUID OUTLET CONDUIT VERTICALLY DISPOSEDIN SAID RECEPTACLE AND HAVING AN OPEN TOP AND ITS LOWER END INTERNALLYDISPOSED TO PROVIDE FLUID COMMUNICATION WITH SAID RECEPTACLE OUTLETOPENING AND EXTERNALLY CONNECTED IN FLUID TIGHT RELATION THERETO TOPREVENT FLUID FLOW FROM SAID RECEPTACLE OTHER THAN THROUGH SAID CONDUIT,AN INVERTED CUP-SHAPED ELEMENT ATTACHED TO SAID CONDUIT FOR VERTICALRECIPROCATING MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO SAID RECEPTACLE IN A PREDETERMINEDPATH BETWEEN A NORMAL ELEVATED POSITION AND AN OPERATED DEPRESSEDPOSITION AND HAVING A TOP END WALL DISPOSED IN